FORMER England captain Bryan Robson has tipped Steven Gerrard to lead the national side one day.

FORMER England captain Bryan Robson has tipped Steven Gerrard to lead the national side one day.

The ex-Manchester United midfielder is in no doubt that Gerrard will captain both his club and country in the future.

And Robson, who had a 12 year career with England despite a series of injuries, believes the Liverpool star is already a better player than he ever was.

"I have absolutely no hesitation in saying he will captain England at some stage," he said. "Can you imagine what he is going to be like when he plays more games for Liverpool and England and gets even more success?

"Comparisons are very nice of them - I would like to think I was as good as him. The kid is a fantastic player and will only get better. In fact, when I was at Boro I tried to sign him.

"I got something more than a polite refusal - it was two words if I remember correctly!

"Gerrard has everything - good pace, great energy, aggression, will-to-win, a great passing range, heading power and he can score fabulous goals."

"The only thing I hope is that he stays away from injury. I'm sure there will be a time in his career when Gerrard gets knocked as well.

"But he has broad shoulders - you can see that - and when he does get hammered I know he will bounce back."

Robson also believes that in Michael Owen, Liverpool and England have a world class striker.

And the former Middlesbrough boss is 100 per cent certain that while Owen may be known as St Michael to an adoring Kop, he can definitely look after himself on the pitch.

"Michael is an absolutely fabulous player," he said. "The thing I really like about him is that though everyone says he is such a nice lad, he's not - certainly on the pitch.

"Out there he's an aggressive little so-and-so. And he's a winner. He hates losing and he detests missing chances.

"Look at him when that happens. There's no smile and a shrug of the shoulders.

"You can see he absolutely hates it and is just thinking about the next one and this time there is no mistake."

Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand has hailed the feel-good factor coach Sven- Goran Eriksson has brought to the England squad and the nation.

The Leeds United defender believes Eriksson has instilled a confidence among the squad and supporters alike that England are a force to be reckoned with once again in international football.

The belief that the good times are just around the corner reached a new high with the 5-1 demolition of Germany in Saturday's World Cup qualifier in Munich.

But Ferdinand spelled out the determination in the England camp to capitalise on that stunning success with victory against Albania at St James' Park tomorrow night.

Ferdinand said: "To be honest, the fans' expectations of the team have risen gradually - and now those expectations are going to be even higher.

"I think Sven-Goran Eriksson is going to be hailed as an England boss by them now!

"He's instilled a lot of confidence in the squad and in everyone else in the nation. That only bodes well for the future. There is a real buzz everywhere.

"He does not talk too much but he says exactly what he wants and then expects you to go out and do exactly what he says."

Ferdinand admitted: "I can't remember much about the game. It's all a bit of a blur. But we showed what we are capable of doing against the Germans, and it was an occasion to remember.

"But the first thing on our minds as soon as we got back to the dressing room on Saturday was Albania, and we were determined even then not to get overexcited with ourselves.

"It was nice to taste that moment in Munich. But we knew that there was still a job to be done - and we've got to make sure we do a good job in Newcastle.

"It would be terrible if we never pressed home the advantage of the win over the Germans."

Sol Campbell added: "We know there's still a lot to do before we can hopefully celebrate getting to next summer's finals."